Streaky part 2: Nutrition, Focus, and just plain awesomeness

Jenn or Streaky.....which ever you call her - is an awesome person. Anytime I've had a question or needed to be inspired she is there with a smile on her face and probably a heavy ass barbell in her hand. She has been through a lot and is a super positive person. I first interviewed her here and now that some time has passed I decided I needed to catch up with her again. Of course, she said yes.

She is one of the first women I saw pictures of that lifted heavy and 100% gave me the guts to not only say "I want to do that too" but actually get the courage to do it. For that I thank you Streaky.




1. What does your off day look like? What do you like to do other than pick things up and put them down?

My off day is usually spent doing meal prep, laundry, and prepping for the week ahead. Hanging with my boy and pups. I love being outdoors, hiking, biking, motorcycling, exploring.


2. What does your training day look like? Where are you training? Multiple times a day? With friends or alone?

My training days right now are pretty intense - 2 a days - strength, conditioning, bro stuff at Golds Gym for aesthetics and accessory pieces - TONS OF BICEP CURLS - I usually train alone, but sometimes I get lucky and have a buddy.

3. What advice do you have for women looking to lift heavy shit?

Lifting heavy shit is so empowering. DO IT! With it brings forth a confidence you never knew existed.


4. Favorite movie?

The Goonies


5. What was your take-away from Regionals Team last year? The good. The bad.

I loved that I set a goal to compete at Regionals and did what it took to get there. The good: being able to compete along side of the best teammates led by the amazing Miki Carey. Being part of a team was pretty neat. I've never played sports or anything, so it was a neat dynamic. The bad: I wasn't 100% confident in my abilities and strengths. I focused too much on what I couldn't do instead of what I could. :(

6. What is your focus on now? Crossfit? Lifting? Do you have goals set?

My focus is still on training like a boss. I still love crossfit, however I'm leaning more towards powerlifting/Oly/Grid style training. I love moving heavy shit really quickly. I have a ton of goals set for the next 6 months.

7. What has changed for your new meal plan? Flexible dieting, Macros....?

My new meal plan has a lot more carbs added in to it because my volume and intensity has increased a ton. 

I don't really consider myself a flexible dieter. As of now my food choices are usually body builder/zone like - with the occasional splurge on a rice crispie treat. By occasional I mean daily. LOL 

I literally can't even....bad. ass.

8. Any competitions coming up?

My first Competition this season is going to be June 26/27 - power lifting/power X. Can't wait to see how my new dieting and programming has changed since last season.

9. What the question you get asked most?

The question I get asked the most: "when is your next show?" I always have folks assume I'm a body building, which I take as a compliment. Probably my biggest pet peeve question "how do I get lean and tone without being bulky or too muscular like you?" :(



10. Who do you look up to? Who are you DYING to meet?

I look up to a ton of people - my mom - peers - I find inspiration, wisdom, and knowledge from everyone. Dying to meet? No one in particular. I love meeting new people!

11. Any new tatoos in the works?

No new tattoos in the works, however I'd love to finish my left arm sleeve and fix the Koi fish that everyone says looks like a thanksgiving cornucopia.

12. Morning person or night owl?

I'm both - Morning person and a night owl.

13. Do you have a motto or a saying that gets you through the tough workouts?

My motto that gets me through: the first thing I usually tell myself is there are no pansies in the hall of fame. Pick it up Streaky!!! and "don't beat yourself up. you came in, did work, and punched the clock. You are one rep closer to the podium. Suck it up and do work - nothing but a peanut."

14. What's the hardest part about coaching? What's the best part?

I don't feel like there is a hard part to coaching - passing the written testy maybe. Hahahha  The best part is seeing an athletes face light up when they PR, learn a movement, and appreciate you for teaching them something outside their comfort zone. The feeling inside is indescribable. It makes my soul happy.

15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I hope to still be coaching and competing and getting prepared to compete as a Masters Athlete.

16. How has the move to Crossfit Goat and Georgia been? Missing the beach?

Quite honestly, this move has been extremely taxing on me mentally, physically, and emotionally. It has affected my training tremendously. Weather, new surroundings, people, etc. is a huge adjustment. Once I finally got my bearings everything seems to be working out for the best. I am currently still doing make up and working 4 other jobs, but i love it. 

I absolutely miss the beach and Florida and my mom and friends and family and Gardens Crossfit very much. Looking forward to going home and visiting, but as for now I'm busy hustling and training my ass off here in Georgia. 

Thanks Streaky!!!!

The People's Athlete. You can.

I love sports. I really really love them. I don't like every sport - sorry baseball - but I am very competitive so watching a game is right up my alley. My mom enjoys sports a lot. My dad once brought a book and his lap top to a game - he's more of a chess guy.

I played field hockey and lacrosse in high-school. I did a brief stint on the indoor track circuit. Did.Not.Go.Well. Turns out I didn't like to just run.

Never. Ever. 

I went to college on a lacrosse scholarship. I was constantly surrounded by people that were competitive on another level. I loved it. I miss it almost daily. Crossfit has replaced some of that feeling for me. I'm surrounded by a group of people that are competitive - yes, there are people that just want to sweat, just want a good workout, etc. You can find me chatting with any one of them. I love em all!

Next week is my 2 year Crossfit Anniversary. In that time I have competed in Superfit DC twice, Superfit Delaware, Cold War 3, and the Capital Throwdown. Coming up I have Superfit Rubicon (my first individual) and Cold War 4. I love to compete. The adrenaline and excitement sends me to the bathroom about a million times - but I love it. 

Delaware was so fun!

Team America sitting in 3rd after workout #1

All this makes me an athlete. True. I Googled it:

Athlete: a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

Synonyms: competitor, jock, player, challenger, contender

See? That's me. I love being an athlete. I identify with that right after Mom and Wife. I live for the feeling I get when I workout, when I PR, when I win, when I just show up, when I inspire others, when I get to cheer on my friends.........it's all awesome. 

A Google image search for Athlete

What they have in common is heart and desire - and that black outfit

My stats: Snatch: 105#, Deadlift 285#, Back Squat 245#

I am an athlete because I love it, not because I lift the most or run the fastest. It makes me happy. I show up day after day to get better and to cheer on my fellow athletes. 

The People's Athlete. That's me. I'm here to cheer for you. I'm here to show you it can be done. You can make the time. You can be strong. You can be fast. You can be bad ass. We cannot all be these chicks:

wow

Inspiring? Yes. Awesome to watch? Yes. Absolutely. Will this be you? Probably not. Their full time job is working out. Most of them have some pretty legit athletic backgrounds (think division 1 gymnasts). That's ok. We need the pro's to inspire us.

That's where I step in. I am here to show you that the average woman can be an athlete. You can. Whether it's for the first time in your life or you are getting back into it. You can.  

Yep. Pull ups at 34 years old

I kinda gave myself the title. It's ok. People do that.

You know who loves The People's Athlete? Afrobrutality. Syn rocks. I wrote him my goal is to inspire the average athlete. Show them it can be done. It's not too late. You don't have to spend 9 hours a day in the gym to make progress and be bad ass. Obviously he loved it.

My favorite brutality tank

Always feel bad ass in this tank

Check out Afrobrutality. They have cool shit, great coffee, and are located in New York. What more do you want?

Go out there and be bad ass!

• star

10 Things you didn't know about Erin - as she preps for MidAtlantic Regionals!

If you don't know Erin, co-owner of Crossfit Annapolis, you will want to after reading this. I met Erin in 1993 - a forced friendship because our brothers played soccer together. We hung out at a soccer awards banquet at Fudrucker's and never looked back. In a word Erin is fun. I spent my high school years at her house, baking chocolate chip banana bread, listening to music, and laughing a lot. Ah, memory lane:

Erin, Meg, and me - game ready!

Me, Erin, and Meg after a lacrosse game

Meg, Me, and Erin - my first car accident

Erin and me after a lacrosse tournament

Me and Erin at ODU lax camp

Erin is the definition of an athlete. She began with Lacrosse, then track and field, then Field Hockey. That was High School - we spent a lot of time together on those sport fields. Throughout college she stayed active - we separated to Longwood (me) and Va Tech (Erin). We are like yo-yo's though and always seem to come back together....next in an adult Lacrosse league. It was like old times. Running, laughing, and of course - chocolate chip banana bread.

Now Erin and I find each other together again - by spirit, email, text messages, and Facebook. :)  Both mothers of two boys. We both have road race and triathlon experiences under our belts - Erin's list is way more impressive than mine.

I cannot do justice to her impressive athletic achievements - it's a long list. Erin has completed every running distance I've ever heard of, including The Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 mile trail run, The Mid Maryland Ultra 50K and The Umstead 100 mile Endurance Race. She has done some impressive swims including the Chesapeake Bay Swim and of course triathlons.Erin ran the Dublin and Richmond Marathon and the JFK 50-miler while pregnant. She also completed the American Odyssey 200-mile Adventure Relay Run. After she had her baby she registered for Ironman Lake Placid and ran the Annapolis 10 Miler. Intimidated? Don't be. Erin is also the biggest cheerleader you will ever meet.

racing with her hubby

running for two

crossing the finish!

Currently Erin is training for the Mid Atlantic Regionals that are happening at GMU May 23-25. She went into The Open hoping to get to Regionals with Team Syndicate (ranked 6th place). Wouldn't you know - she also qualified to go as an individual (ranked 17th!)!!!!!

Here's my interview with Erin:

1. You have a background in running, lacrosse, and field hockey. How did you find yourself in Crossfit?

I first heard about Crossfit when it was more of an underground thing and the closest one around to me was 15 miles away (hardly the case now!). I had been very big into endurance competitions and was hoping to qualify for a few marathon/ultra-distance events so I swallowed my fear of the unknown and added Crossfit into supplement my endurance training. It definitely helped and I loved it!

2. What is your favorite way to WOD? Music or no music?

I would say music but to be honest it probably doesn't matter if it is silent and crickets are chirping. The last thing I typically hear before a workout is 3-2-1-GO and then I couldn't tell you what happens or what I hear until I am done.

3. Hardest Crossfit move for you at this time?

Oh gosh, right now- strict HSPU's. A lot of the gymnastic movements are a work in progress for me but I'm stubborn and keep at them. :)

4. Favorite Crossfit move?

At the moment butterfly pull-ups. I never thought I would say that but I worked so hard to have that become a smooth and efficient movement. When I first started trying to learn them, I looked like a struggling fish out of water!

5. Your goal for The Open was to qualify on a team, what was your reaction when you saw you finished 17th in the Mid Atlantic Region!?

I was really surprised, honestly. But I was thrilled- it's always motivating to have hard work pay off. Even when you feel like you are squeezing for time to train and compete. The Open can be tough because you have to be "on" during each one of those workouts for five weeks straight. Life still goes on during those five weeks- family, kids, friends, jobs, training, vacation, etc. It was definitely an adventure coordinating!

6. What keeps you motivated?

Two things:
1. My love of being an athlete and having the ability to run, jump, play, and move. I love seeing what I am capable of. If I fail, I have a new goal to reach and a story to grow from. If I succeed, I appreciate the journey it took me to get there. The sun will still rise tomorrow, no matter what kind of day I have. That's motivation. I try to swallow any fear I have of the unknown, take risks and whole-heartedly embrace the adventure of any journey I am on no matter what the outcome.

2. My family. My husband who supports me on all my crazy adventures and the two little boys who call me "mommy". I will strive every single day to be the kind of person I want them to grow to be. That is motivation for me to work hard and dream big....so they do, too.

7. You have a family - including two small boys! - What does a training day look like for you?

Oh gosh. Every day is a bit different but it typically starts in the early morning getting the boys dressed and fed and finishes with getting them fed, bathed, and into bed so I can collapse, myself. I know that isn't the "training" you mean but phew! Really though- I either get a training session in mid-day or in the early morning before the world wakes up. It's sort of a balancing act but getting in time to train or doing something active each day makes me a better....everything (mom, wife, friend). 

8. Do you have mantra, quote, saying that helps you get through the rough stuff?

Inspired from my baby boy, Kilian- "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

9. You inspire so many - who inspires you?

I'm inspired every day by people I notice in the moment- the woman running while pushing two kids in a jogging stroller fighting to keep going no matter how tired and sleep-deprived she is; the student going to school and working full-time in order to follow a dream; the soldiers we see coming home to their families after being away for so many months. I try my best to listen and look around every day and find a moment- it's an easy way to be inspired if you let it be.

10. Favorite post workout food?

Chocolate chip banana bread. Always has been and always will be. :)


Just so you don't think I'm biased I got a little ditty from Megan  (you can read more about her here)- a partner in crime for Erin and I in high school and life (and pictured above).

We should have known Erin would be a a fitness/healthy guru from the beginning.  She chugged more ice water then anyone I had ever known. . she was all about hydration before hydration was cool.   When I say Chug. . . I mean she could put back gallons of water at Don Pablo's before I had finished a single glass. While most kids in school were eating pizza and chips, she would pack raw veggies that earned her the nickname broccoli buddy. Somehow we called each other that, but I am pretty sure I didn't earn it.   She did have a weakness for Baskin Robbins Chocolate and Peanut butter (lesson learned: everything in moderation right?!).

Erin was also a great leader in both our sports- lacrosse and field hockey.  I can remember doing long distance runs  and singing Beatles songs to help the time go by faster because she was such a natural runner. She would run ahead and tackle back making sure we were all finishing! We involved everyone around us to help get through the run (because let's be honest in high school 2 miles was long distance!).   

I remember vividly running around Burke Lake with Ann and Erin the summer before our senior field hockey season.    At the time, I didn't realize, but I had developed bad exercise induced asthma.  I was having such a hard time completing our long run. It was the longest run around the lake I had ever had and I remember being devastated because I had never felt like that before after being an athlete my whole life.  We finally finished and it was because both Erin and Ann were supportive and motivating through every mile!  I see these characteristics have continued on through both of their Crossfit communities!

xoxo - Meg

Thanks so much for inspiring all of us Erin!!!!! Good Luck at Regionals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!